Poultry feeder having a band type conveyor



Aug. 20, 1963 N. comms mmm mmm A mmm` `@ummm l2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed April 6. 196

'V ite Tlhis invention relates to conveyors for flowable solid materials and, more particularly, to a feeding device for distributing pulverant materials along an open-topped States Patent C" trough accessible tto stock including poultry. More specically, the invention is an improvement in a method and means for automatically distributing feed in a 'closed circuit trough-type poultry feeder.

The feeding of live stock, such as poultry, on a lange scale necessarily involves much manual attention. Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a feeder of lange capacity in which the feeding can be controlled with a minimum of attention by an operator. Another object is to provide a method and automatic means for uniformly distributing a supply of fresh feed within a continuous or closed circuit dock feeder. An additional object is to provide an automatic and controllable feeder which is silent in operation `yet rugged and inexpensive in construction. A further object is to provi-de an apparatus which maintains a continuously renewed supply of feed in a continuous rtrough and minimizes the possibility of accumulating stale feed along the path of the conveyor. It is also an object of this invention to provide a conveyor mechanism which is quiet running, which requires a minimum of attention for maintenance of its mechanical components, and which does not tend to disturb the feeding poultry. Likewise, it is a lfurfther object to provide a system which can handle various types of feed and without tending to grind the feed within the trough.

A `further important object is to provide an apparatus which is readily expandable for various sizes of flocks of poultry but which is also eicient for use in connection with relatively small ocks. A more specic object of th-e invention is to provide a flexible conveyor .element which is of simple sturdy construction, is uniform in its feed conveying capacity, and is kink-proof. These and other object-s of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the ant as the 'description thereof proceeds.

Briefly, this invention provides an improved poultry or stock feeder of the type wherein a feed conduit comprising an open-topped horizontal trough is arranged in communication with a feed supply hopper and wherein an endless flexible distributing means comprising a dis-- tributing band having unitary paddles is moved longitudinally of the trough within a closed circuit. More particularly, according to this invention, the feed is distributed within the trough means by a continuous or endless flexible distributing band which moves longitudinally along the open-topped trough. 'I'he word .flilghts, as -used hereinafter, has reference to the straight length of trough and to the rlengths of the Adistributing band means which nuns within the same portion of the trough means. Aft the corners itis desired to change the direction of travel of the endless flexible distributing means in the presence of a minimum feed. Accordingly,

the feed supplyhopper may be placed at any convenientpoint, but ordinarily will he placed over a ight just beyond a corner so as to minimize any tendency offeed t to accumulate within theA corner.

, It is also desired to drive the endless distributing means in a closed circuit and I have devised a positive drive means which is placed at one of the corners. The drive is of rugged construction, but has a minimum of moving parts.

, stock.

icc

Preferred forms of endless flexible distributor means is a metal band impervious to feed and which has unitary paddles which will sweep the feed along the trough.

Details of my invention will be described by reference to particular embodiments thereof illustrated in the drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a schematic plan view showing the gene-ral arrangement of a closed circuit feeder embodying the principles of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side view of a band distribu-tor provided with the feed impellers; Y

FIGURE 3 is a top view of distributor of FIGURE 2 shown partly in section;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of an idler corner in the feeder of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the drive corner `in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken along the line 6 6 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 in FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken along the line 8--8 in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 9 is a perspective of a section of trough and conveyor illustrating a conveyor guide.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a stock feeder -is shown having an open-topped trough 10, an endless exible distributing ribbon or conveyor band y11 having unitary paddles 11a running in the trough adjacent one side thereof, a supply 'hopper 12 from which feed discharges through port 12a onto the conveyor 11, drive means 13 for the band 11, and idler corners 14 'for .guiding the band 11 around the circuit of trough 10. Cages 15 may be arranged in appropriate manner adjacent the trough 10.

The feed conveyor band 1K1 according to my invention as illustrated in the drawings comprises a metal band which is impervious to `feed and has feed-carrying surface 11a. The band may be from about 0.05 to 0.125 inch thick With the general characteristics of clock spring 'applied in the drive corner or station 13. The trough 10 may have theAcross-secticn shown in FIGURE 8 having lip 10a, bottom wall 10b, side wall 10c and side wall 10d and the idler Vcorners 14 may be as shown in FIGURES Vl and 4. A connector section (not shown) may be pnovidedat the inlet and outlet of the corners 13 and 14 to menge with the adjacent ends of the troughs 10. j

`The idler corners 14 include shoes 14b (FIGURES 1, 4 and 6). Each idleris provided with band 'holddown comprising arcuate plate 21 supported by cantilever brackets 2.2. A self-lubricating shoe surface 14e is carried by the skid or shoe 14b as shown in FIGURE 6. In. the embodiment of FIGURE 1, the conveyor 11 travels clockwise, picking up feed from thehopper 12 and` then inA series through the idler corners 14 and con- `necting flights of trough 10, which are in substantially the same plane.

The band conveyor 11 is provided, as shown in FIG- `URES 2 and 3, with unitary feed impellers 11a. Intermediate each of these impellers 11a is provided slots 16b `for engagement with theteeth of drive sprocket 16. `In `another form of drive, the pulley 16 is provided with a resilient traction facing (not shown).

To operate the conveyor band 11, there is provided a drive mechanism at corner 13 comprising traction drive sprocket 16 having teeth for engagement with the slots 1Gb in band 11 as shown inr FIGURES 1, 2 and 5. The drive sprocket 16 is driven through drive 17, drive pulley 19, drive pulley belt 18, and motor-transmission 20, elecltric motor being controlled by -a manual switch or timer (not shown). v

The foregoing description has been with respect to a closed circuit system VVwherein three idler'corners rare associated with a single drive corner. It is contemplated, however, that the principles of design incorporated herein may be utilizedr in a closed trough circuit which includes only a drive end and a turnaround end with conveyor ights running in parallel therebetween in the same trough. a Reverting to the last ligure in the drawings, the vertical band 11 may be held adjacent the inner wall of the trough by a clip 23 having wear shoe and guide 25 supporting the lower edge and alignment guide 24 overhanging the upper edge of the band 11.

Although my appanaftus has been described in terms of particular embodiments thereof which vhave been set forth in considerable detail, it should be understood that this is by way of illustration only and that my invention is not limited thereto. Alternative constructions and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art in View of my disclosure and, accordingly, it is contemplated that modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the described invention.

What I claim is:

1. -In a poultry-feeding apparatus, the combination of an open-topped trough means and corners providing an endless circuit, said trough means having bottom and side walls, exible endless conveyor means extending along said circuit, means for introducing feed into said trough means, said conveyor meansv being flat and relatively thin and running adjacent one of said walls, feed engaging portions on said conveyor arranged in planes transverse to the path of travel of said conveyor, a holddown mounted in said trough means substantially coextensive with said corner and colinear with a segment of said Iconveyor passing through said corner, said holddown including lan arcuate flange member arranged in a plane parallel to the normal plane of travel of said conveyor in traversing the corner and entering an adjacent vtiight oftrough, said member being engageable by said feed engaging 'portions when said conveyor rises in said trough.

2, The feeding apparatus of claim 1 which includes a linear array of cages confining poultry to be fed, said trough meansbeing substantially co-extensive with said array, and said conveyor runs along the wall of said trough means adjacent said cages and said feed engaging pontions project outwardly into said trough. i Y 3. The apparatus of claim l wherein said feed-engaging portions are arranged transvers'efto the conveyor means between opposed side walls and Said portions eX- tend a distance less than the width of the bottom Wall.

4. A stock -feeder comprising an open-topped trough means into which afeedsupply is discharged, anendless continuous conveyor drawn through said `trough means adjacent the bottom thereof, a plurality of idler corners, a drive means, each of said' idlerV corners including a housing arranged in Ialignment with two adjacent flights of trough, an idler insaid corner, and overhanging conveyor guide Vmeans in said corners, said guide means comprising an arcuate member in peripheral alignment with the idler and suspended over lthe conveyor by cantilever brackets.

5. A stock feeder comprising an open-topped trough means in which'a feed supply is provided, an endless continuous conveyor band drawn through said trough means adjacent a side wall thereof, a plurality of corners, each of said corners including a housing arranged in l alignment with two adjacent flights of trough, band guide means in said corner in alignment with adjacent flights of said trough, band holddown means in said corner, said holddown'being substantially co-extensive' 6.Y The stock feeder of claim 5 wherein the band comprises a metal strip having unitary self paddles.

7. In a poultry feeding apparatus Vthe combination of a feeding trough' means comprising an endless trough circuit in a substantially horizontal plane, said circuit having connected linear and non-linear pontions, flexible endless feed-impervious distributing band means movable edgewise 4within said trough means longitudinally therethrough, sa-id band comprising a continuousV ribbon strip rigid and self-supporting in ia vertical plane and exible in another plane, means for supplying power to the band to drive it through said trough means, and hopper means for supplying feed to be moved by the band along the said trough means.

8. The poultry feeding apparatus of claim 7 which includes idler shoe means innon-linear portions of said circuit, said shoe comprising a self-lubricating plastic such as nylon.

9. A stock feeder comprising an open-topped trough means into which a feed supply is discharged, an endless band comprising a continuous feed-impervious ribbon drawn edge-wise through said trough means along its bottom Wall and adjacent a side wall thereof, a plurality of idler corners, a drive corner, each of said corners including a housing arranged in alignment with two adjacent flights of trough, and band holddown means in each of said corners in alignment with the upper edge of the band, said guidejmeans comprising an arcuate plate supported by cantilever brackets fixed to the peripheral wall `o'f the corner housing.

10. In ya poultry feeding apparatus the combination of a feeding trough means comprising an endless circuit in a substantially horizontal plane, exible endless ventically u'p-standing ribbon means movable within said trough means Vlongitudinally therethrough, said ribbon being self-supporting in its edgewise travel in the endless circuit, means for supplying power to the band to drive it through said trough means, and hopper means for supplying feed to 4be moved by the band ralong the said trough means.

l1. In a poultry feeding apparatus, the combination vof'a longitudinally extending feeding trough means, ilex- References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 460,202 Eberhardt Sept. 29, 1891 2,533,572 Fulke Dec. vl2, 1950 2,646,158 Vodoz July 2l, 1953 2,683,439 Markey July 13, 1954 2,720,119 Sherman Oct. 1l, 195,5 

1. IN A POULTRY FEEDING APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION OF AN OPEN-TOPPED TROUGH MEANS AND CORNERS PROVIDING AN ENDLESS CIRCUIT, SAID TROUGH MEANS HAVING BOTTOM AND SIDE WALLS, FLEXIBLE ENDLESS CONVEYOR MEANS EXTENDING ALONG SAID CIRCUIT, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING FEED INTO SAID TROUGH MEANS, SAID CONVEYOR MEANS BEING FLAT AND RELATIVELY THIN AND RUNNING ADJACENT ONE OF SAID WALLS, FEED ENGAGING PORTIONS ON SAID CONVEYOR ARRANGED IN PLANES TRANSVERSE TO THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID CONVEYOR, A HOLDDOWN MOUNTED IN SAID TROUGH MEANS SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID CORNER AND COLINEAR WITH A SEGMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR PASSING THROUGH SAID CORNER, SAID HOLDDOWN INCLUDING AN ARCUATE FLANGE MEMBER ARRANGED IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO THE NORMAL PLANE OF TRAVEL OF SAID CONVEYOR IN TRAVERSING THE CORNER AND ENTERING AN ADJACENT FLIGHT OF TROUGH, SAID MEMBER BEING ENGAGEABLE BY SAID FEED ENGAGING PORTIONS WHEN SAID CONVEYOR RISES IN SAID TROUGH. 